How To Prepare For The Bar Exam With Kids

How To Prepare For The Bar Exam With Kids

Studying and preparing for the bar exam can be a daunting task. Studying and preparing for the bar exam when you have children can be even more challenging. We here at JD Advising know plenty of moms and dads that have taken and passed the bar exam. The fact of the matter is that family life continues despite an upcoming administration of the bar exam. Many applicants prepare for the bar exam while still managing outside responsibilities. We are including pieces of advice on how to prepare for the bar exam with kids. Let’s take a look.

How To Prepare For The Bar Exam With Kids

1. Enroll In A Bar Prep Course

Whether it’s a JD Advising course or another company’s course – going into the bar exam solo isn’t recommended. This is especially true if this is your first time taking the bar exam. It’s even more true for the moms and dads out there. Enrolling in a bar prep course will provide you with structure and allow you to schedule your time appropriately. Having a dedicated course syllabus that outlines your responsibilities for each day is crucial. Why? You can plan ahead from the very beginning (and even before) bar prep starts. This way if the kids have a can’t miss event, you can schedule your time accordingly based on the syllabus. We’ve written extensively on the benefits of enrolling in bar prep courses, so check out our other posts!

2. Study Smarter Not Harder 

With children in the picture, every second you dedicate to bar prep should be spent in the best way possible. That means efficiency and effectiveness. For example, if this is your second time taking the bar exam, identify what worked and what didn’t last time. If you find yourself glazing over during lectures, find a different way to retain the material, such as reviewing outlines. Good use of your study time cannot be emphasized enough. Two hours of focused and dedicated study time is better than five hours of the opposite.

3. Ask For Help

No, we don’t mean asking for help studying for the bar exam (although feel free to do that as well!). We’re referring to having a support system that can share the burden of childcare during bar exam preparations can be very beneficial. For example, maybe grandma and grandpa can pick up the kids from school. Maybe your husband or wife can take the kids out on a Sunday so you can fully focus on preparation. Whatever it is you need, having a dedicated support system to help with the kids can help tremendously.

4. Nap Times/Bedtimes

As any parent knows, nap times and bedtimes for young children are sacred. They allow the parents to relax for (hopefully) a couple of hours and catch up on life’s tasks. In this case, the task is bar exam preparation. Use your child’s nap times and bedtimes as a way to carve out some much-needed study time. Whether it’s a quick power nap or a longer nap, any amount of time is helpful when it comes to studying for the bar exam. Flipping through flashcards, reviewing outlines, and answering essay questions can all be done while children sleep.

5. Incorporate Your Children Into Bar Prep

While this might sound crazy at first, incorporating your children into the bar prep process can be helpful and useful. If your children are younger, explain to them what is going on. “Mommy/Daddy is studying for a very important test.” Simply breaking down the process can help alleviate a lot of questions your child may be having. If your children are older, try making them feel as though they are part of the study process. For example, asking your kids to test you with flashcard definitions is a great way to make them feel included. This way, when you pass the exam, your kids will know they factored into your success!

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